A Royal Kiss and Tell

A certain peacock, whose feathers are easily ruffled, is nonetheless fanning them fully to attract the attention of a bachelor viscount. We have high hopes that someone will offer for the little bird before she molts.

Two ladies were spotted in gowns designed by Lady Caroline Hawke. There is some talk that Lady Caroline will invest in a shop so that she might share her talents with all the ladies of London.

Ladies, it should not have to be stated that gray is not a suitable color for a summer ball, and perhaps should be reserved only for a period of mourning.

—Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and

Domesticity for Ladies

IT REQUIRED BOTH Leopold and Garrett to engineer Beck into the house and to his bed, with Caroline hurrying ahead to remove any obstacles to their progress. When he was at last on his bed, one leg sprawled off the side, Beck lamented the amount of money he’d lost at the gaming table.

As Garrett was in his nightshirt, Caroline said, “See to Beck, Garrett. I’ll see the prince out.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Beck said from the bed and struggled up onto an elbow. “Leo...promise me if anything were to happen to me, you’ll take care of Caro.”

“Beck!” Caroline exclaimed. “Nothing will happen to you. You’re drunk and talking nonsense.”

“Promise me, man,” Beck insisted. “I know you keep an eye on her—don’t think I’ve not noticed,” he said, wagging a finger at empty space.

“Je, friend, I promise,” Leo said with a grin.

“Come and fetch her if you must. She’d be better off in Alucia than she would be with these jackals.” His eyes slid closed.

“My goodness,” Caroline said. “Your Highness, shall I see you out?”

They walked out as Garrett attempted to remove Beck’s shoes.

In the hall, as Caroline closed the door to Beck’s room, Leo leaned against the wall, smiling ruefully. He’d undone his neckcloth and looped his sash over one arm. He was so appealing standing there that her heart began to skip. She grabbed his hand and tugged him along, hurrying down the stairs and into the drawing room.

The hearth was cold, the drapes drawn. She groped on a table for a candle and found one, struck a match and provided a small bit of light. She held it up and turned around.

He took the candle from her hand and placed it on the table, then took her into his arms.

She didn’t know what she was doing, other than she couldn’t bear to lose a moment with him. “Everything has turned on its head, hasn’t it? Hollis told me what happened, but not before Katherine Maugham came to tell me that out of concern for my feelings, she thought I ought to know that she saw you trying to seduce a maid, and I should not believe that your attentions to me were anything but for show.”

“She said what?” he asked, incredulous.

Caroline waved a hand at him. “She delighted in telling me, you may trust.”

“She delighted in telling Lord Pennybacker, as well,” he said wryly. “It doesn’t matter. Rasa refused to go. She likes her post. I told Pennybacker that the poor lass had rebuffed my advances and fled.”

“Leopold!”

“What was I to say? I couldn’t risk the blame falling to her.” He stroked Caroline’s face. “I have tried my best, but I think I must accept that I can’t save them all. Rasa has refused me, and the girl at the Farringtons’ may, as well. And that leaves one missing yet.”

“Maybe the girl at Priscilla’s will know where the other one is?” Caroline offered hopefully. “I’ll help you in any way that I can.”

But Leopold was already shaking his head. “No matter what happens at the Farrington supper, I will depart a day or two later, depending on the tide.” He stroked his thumb across her cheek.

That was it, then—the end date. Caroline lifted her hand and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. “Leopold...” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words that were in her heart and on her mind. She suddenly threw her arms around his neck to kiss him. He caught her by the waist, making a sound like a laugh into her mouth. But this was no laughing matter to Caroline. She had found the one she wanted. The man who made her want to leave everyone else behind. The man who had made her think beyond herself, who had seen something in her beyond her looks.

The need for him struck her almost violently. The swell of adoration for him was so powerful it left her dizzy, almost like a waking dream.